Share this @internewscast.com

As attention turned to what next for Chelsea, Mauricio Pochettino quickly interjected when it was suggested that it was Tottenham.

‘Next one is Wednesday here, Carabao Cup,’ he pointed out, referring to Blackburn’s fourth round visit.

But his first return to Spurs is looming large, Chelsea’s next league assignment next Monday.

After his current side failed to win at home once more against Brentford, memories of how good Pochettino’s peak Tottenham team were on their ground came to mind.

Mauricio Pochettino has his work cut out trying to right this Chelsea ship after another defeat

Mauricio Pochettino has his work cut out trying to right this Chelsea ship after another defeat

Chelsea are on a collision course with league leaders Tottenham, who will spell rival's blood

Chelsea are on a collision course with league leaders Tottenham, who will spell rival’s blood

His Spurs once went a historic whole season unbeaten in their final year at White Hart Lane.

Those who witnessed it first-hand remember how Pochettino evolved Spurs into a side who for a spell were convinced they were almost unstoppable, especially at home.

MATCH FACTS AND PLAYER RATINGS

CHELSEA (4-2-3-1): Sanchez 7; Disasi 6.5 (James 67, 6), Silva 8, Colwilll 6, Cucurella 7 (Washington 81); Gallagher 7, Caicedo 7 (Ugochukwu 81); Madueke 6.5 (Maatsen 67, 6), Palmer 8, Sterling 6.5; Jackson 6.

Subs not used: Beach, Petrovic, Badiashile, Gusto, Matos.

Booked: Caicedo

Manager: Mauricio Pochettino 6

BRENTFORD (3-5-2): Flekken 7.5; Ajer 7.5, Pinnock 8.5, Collins 7.5; Roerslev 7, Jensen 7.5 (Onyeka 64, 7), Norgaard 8, Janelt 7 (Yarmolyuk 76), Hickey 7 (Ghoddos 84); Mbeumo 7.5, Wissa 7 (Maupay 76).

Subs not used: Strakosha, Zanka, Mee, Olakigbe, Brierley

Scorers: Pinnock 58, Mbeumo 90+6

Booked: Maupay, Onyeka, Ghoddos, Noorgard

Manager: Thomas Frank 8.5

Referee: Simon Hooper 5

Attendance: 39, 575

If the game was a physical battle or technical test they believed they would come out on top.

If a tactical solution was required, there was total faith that Pochettino could find it.

The contrast with Chelsea right now could not be greater.

Just three league wins have been secured at home during 2023 and Manchester City and Brighton are two of their four remaining visitors.

Yes, it took time for Pochettino to build that Spurs team but that is a – and his – benchmark, along with Chelsea teams of old who possessed a similar sense of invincibility.

This version, as Pochettino admitted, can be frustrated too easily when faced with defensively diligent and deep opponents. There is also nowhere near the same authority.

If they go behind the final outcome appears inevitable rather than it feeling like they can snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

Chelsea’s woes at home have not solely been on his watch but they are now Pochettino’s problem to solve.

He said: ‘We try to identify that [what is lacking] but it’s not only happened from the beginning of this season. 

‘It was last season also, with different coaches.

‘It is something we need to fix. I don’t say I am worried but we feel the responsibility and try to find the solution.’

Pochettino reiterated that his young team need to mature and are ‘really thinking’ about the answers.

He added: ‘It is about creating a good atmosphere. You need to be in the right way with the fans, with the team. The team need to translate the idea of the fans that [they] can trust of course both ways.

‘I am not talking about the mentality of the club, of the badge, about the fans because Chelsea is about victories and strong mentality. About winning.

‘It is about that team is young and we need to match this level.’

Raheem Sterling looked perplexed as Chelsea plugged in another puzzling league display

Raheem Sterling looked perplexed as Chelsea plugged in another puzzling league display

Pochettino (right, in conversation with striker Nicolas Jackson) agreed afterwards that his young team need to mature  as their struggles, particularly at Stamford Bridge, continue

Pochettino (right, in conversation with striker Nicolas Jackson) agreed afterwards that his young team need to mature  as their struggles, particularly at Stamford Bridge, continue

Pochettino fired back at a supporter following a spat with Jackson, who shushed the fan

Pochettino fired back at a supporter following a spat with Jackson, who shushed the fan

Pochettino referenced the connection with fans after Nicolas Jackson was involved in a spat with a supporter which required his intervention and further fuelled the sense all is not well at Stamford Bridge. Jackson shushed the fan who urged him to wake up.

But, with January around the corner and the likes of Brentford’s Ivan Toney on their radar, another struggle in front of goal for him and his team-mates will have done little to silence talk about Chelsea’s need for a new striker.

Victory was Brentford’s third in a row at Chelsea but Thomas Frank resisted the temptation to twist the knife when asked if visiting the Bridge is a daunting prospect.

He said: ‘We respect everyone hugely. We know there are a lot of teams that have much bigger budgets and on paper better players but the players have big belief in themselves. I have.

‘We believe we can go into any football game, home and away and win. I also know we can lose but we believe massively that we can do it.’

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Australian Cricket Legend Advises Sam Konstas to Make Key Adjustment for Future Success

Allan Border, the legendary Australian cricketer, has some words of wisdom for…

Arne Slot Shares Insights on Defeating Liverpool with Reference to Manchester United and Chelsea

Arne Slot, el técnico del Liverpool, ha enfrentado críticas tras destacar uno…

Jamie Carragher Slams West Ham’s Woeful Performance: ‘The Slowest Premier League Team Ever!

Jamie Carragher did not hold back his criticism of the way West…

Unstoppable Reds: Liverpool Roars Back with Dominant 5-1 Triumph Over Eintracht Frankfurt

How much longer can this go on? Surely, it can’t continue like…

Virgil van Dijk’s Remarkable Comments: A Rare Win for Roy Keane, A Revealed Manager’s Nickname, and Pundits’ Misguided Views on Arsenal – Insights from Ian Ladyman’s Premier League Weekend

Roy Keane truly shines on the “Stick to Football” podcast with Gary…

Wayne Rooney Urges Arne Slot to Sideline Alexander Isak, Highlighting the Striker’s Ongoing Challenges at Anfield

Liverpool’s manager, Arne Slot, faces a tough decision as Wayne Rooney suggests…

Tyson Fury Declares Permanent Retirement: ‘Gypsy King is Dead’ Even for £1 Billion

Tyson Fury has made a definitive statement, declaring that the “Gypsy King…

Ruben Amorim Outsmarts Arne Slot: Key Takeaways from Man United’s Thrilling 2-1 Victory Over Liverpool

Ruben Amorim has achieved a significant milestone during his tenure at Manchester…

Brann Triumphs 3-0 Over Rangers: Danny Rohl Confronts the Team’s New Low

If Danny Rohl was unclear about the challenges awaiting him as the…